“The poor have much
to teach you. You have much to learn from them.” St. Vincent de Paul
Since I was a little girl, the word “charity” is always
associated with St. Vincent de Paul. Their trucks seemed to always be around
when it was time to help others in need. They came to our home to pick up
furniture donations, they set up trucks in our parish parking lot for clothing
drives and opened storefronts to create a local physical presence.
With an U.S. army of 160,000 trained volunteers donating
over 11.5 million hours, their seemingly omnipresence becomes clear. Perhaps
what is more inspirational is the impact they have in providing over 14 million
needy recipients with goods and services valued at over $1 billion.
Founded in the mid-1800s, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
is now active in over 130 countries and all 50 United States. Working for the
past 180 years, “Vincentians" work to provide personalized services to individuals
and families in need.
They are the epitome of Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you
welcomed me, naked and you clothed me…”, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is
driven by a spirit of “poverty, humility and sharing.” They encourage prayer
and reflection to seek a more permanent eradication of poverty and its
never-ending cycle.
A true servant of
God, St. Vincent de Paul was born in France in the late 16th century into a
poor family. Ordained as a priest in 1600, he was captured by Barbary pirates, sold
into slavery and lived in bondage for two years until his escape.
Landing in Rome, he continued his studies, eventually returning
to France in 1609 to begin a life focused on providing merciful charity to the needy.
He founded the "Ladies of Charity" (French: Dames de la
Charité), organizing wealthy Parisian women to raise money for charitable
missions and services including ransom for slaves. Appointed chaplain to imprisoned
galley slaves (think Les Miserables), he brought much-needed spiritual hope and
corporal relief to these tormented souls.
Becoming a parish priest and funded by a wealthy patron, he
founded the Congregation
of the Mission, or the "Vincentians,” a community of priests with vows
of poverty,
chastity, obedience and stability and devoted entirely to the people.
Decades of zealous focus with both priests and lay persons, St. Vincent de Paul
established charitable groups in each parish and launched the Daughters of
Charity.
Living to be 80 years old, he was canonized in 1737 and declared
by Pope Leo XIII to the patron saint of all charitable societies. A symbol of
humility, he is known as a beacon of hope and mercy for all classes of people. His
Feast Day is September 27.
Inspired by the charitable works of St. Vincent de Paul, Blessed
Frédéric
Ozanam, a Sorbonne professor and his students founded the Society of St.
Paul de Vincent in 1833, to assist the poor. Fast forward 180 years, this global
charity is known for their personalized service delivered with dignity and
relief from immediate suffering but also focus on creative, longer-term
solutions. To quote their patron: "Charity is infinitely inventive."
You can become a part of this merciful work – donate your
gently used and clean clothing this weekend, July 23 & 24, at our Holy Name
Cathedral Clothing Drive, sponsored by the Human Concerns Commission. SVP
trucks will be in our parking lot before and after all Masses.
Lori Doyle - Joined Holy Name Cathedral 6 1/2 years ago when I moved to Chicago. Currently the Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council, I also served as Chair of the Human Concerns Commission. Actively involved in our parish, I also serve as an Extraordinary Minister and a Minister of Care at Prentice Hospital/Northwestern Hospital. Was honored in 2015 with the annual Archdiocese of Chicago Christifidelis award
Share your thoughts below or on social media, tagging Holy Name Cathedral and using #SeasonOfMercy.
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